Furnace



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. S. WILLIAMS.

FURNAGE. No. 286,887. Patented Oct. 16, 1883.

Fig.2.

Atiest:

N. PETERS mmulm n vw. Wmh'ngluu. n.c.

(No Model;) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. WILLIAMS.

FURNACE. N0.-286,887. Patented Oct. 16,1888.

159 velritw k I I, fir. 1; AIIAQA I p v A PETERS. Phowmha n mr. wmimm. n. c.

(No Model.)

' 8 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. S. WILLIAMS.

FURNACE. No. 286,887. Patented Oct. 16, 1883.

(No Model) 5 Sheets--Sheet 4, Y

- J. S. WILLIAMS.

. FURNACE.

No. 286,887. 8 Patented Oct. 16,1888.

Iriy: 15.

74% fill 676507 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. s. WILf'IAMs.

FURNACE.

No. 286,887. Patented Oct. 16, 1883.

00010000 I pronto COO CI...

IQO'II...

res

Nan

J AGOB S. \VILLIAMS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FURNACE.

SEECI FICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,857, dated October 16, 1883. Application filed December 17, 1881. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, JACOB S. WILLIAMs, of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Furnaces, of which thefollow- 'ing is a specification, reference being had to *say 2,000 Fahrenheit-wh ich temperature should be maintained during the entire time occupied inthe combustion; second, a proper supply of oxygen, to be furnished when and where required; third, time in which the gases may mix mechanically, that theproper chemical action may take place.

Abrief review of the defects ordinarily found in furnaces will more fully illustrate the points of a proper construction.

In boiler-furnaces the surface of the boiler is in such near proximity to the fire that the gases come in contact with said surfaces before thorough combustion takes place, and as the surfaces have water in contact they must be comparatively cold, and therefore in condition to and do absorb heat rapidly, so that the necessary temperature cannot long exist.

In reference to the second requirement it may be said of an ordinary furnace with natural draft that the draft through the furnace is in proportion to the heat in it, and that when the fire is renewed and the volatile matter be ing thrown off and more'oxygen required at that very time the fresh coal is absorbing the heat, the temperature of the furnace being reduced, and in consequence the quantity of air decreased, whereas when the volatile matter has passed off and the amount of oxygen needed diminished the fire is hottest and will induce a greater flow of air, so that when the greatest quantity is required the supply is least, and when the least is required the supply is greatest.

In the third requirement timeordinary furnaces are also deficieht, because at a point but little, if any, beyond the fire-place the temperature is so much reduced as to preclude proper combustion, as the rapidly-moving gases must reach and pass the vital point in a small portion of a second, during which time it is not possible that the air can be sufficiently heated, the oxygen separated from its nitrogen and combined with the carbon, because in contact with the cold surface of the boiler the required temperature cannot be maintained. I proposeto produce and perfect combustion inthe furnace, and afterward apply the heat generated to the boiler or other absorber of it.

My invention consists, first, of a furnace having its side walls extended and in close proximity, forming a long contracted combustion-chamber between the fire and the boiler or other receptacle of the heat, said walls being lined, in part or in whole, with blocks containing heating-fines, two series of which shall have jet-holes at different points, opening into the combustion-chamber.

My improvement consists, further, in an elongated combustion-chalnbercontaining two series of blocks or pipes, the lower series being provided with jet-orifices at the bottom and the upper series with jet-orifices at the top.

My invention consists, further, in combining with the furnace devices for regulating the supply of air to the ash-pit and to one upper series of heating fines or pipes.

My invention consists, further, in combining with the lower series of heating lines or pipes a feed-water pipe.

My invention consists, further, in constructingthe feed-water pipewith a downward bend, forming a trap to prevent the escape of steam, and also with an upward extension, to contain a suiiicient amount of water to overcome the outward pressure of the steam.

My invention consists, further, in a peculiarlyconstructed water-cock,which, by moving inthe same direction, expands and eo11- tracts the opening so as to regulate the supply.

My invention consists] further, in so connecting the water-cock and the air-valve that they will be moved simultaneously, as required, and by the same mechanism.

My invention consists, further, in a combustion-chamber elongated in the direction of the 2 j 256st? current of the products of combustion, supplied by or through the means of a water-cock and air-valve with a definitely determined varying supply of oxygen in such manner as to produce within said chamber the perfect combustion of the carbon of the coal.

By the above construction I secure not only the conversion of the carbonic oxidepreviously formed by the introduction of a definite amount of air under the grates, and in its passage through the fireinto carbonic acid, but also the conversion of the volatile carbon evolved above the incandescent coke when the fire'is renewed, as also the combustion of the hydrogen set free in decomposing the steam by the introduction of superheated air through the upper jet-orifiees,-thus producing in the same furnace, at the same time, four distinct combustions viz., first, in the production of carbonic oxide; second, its conversion into carbonic acid in two operations; third, the conversion of the volatile carbon into carbonic acid by one operation; and, fourth, the com- .bustion of the hydrogen previously set free.

ln'the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the furnace at 1 1, Fig. 5. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a part of one of the flue- .bloeks of which the sides of the furnace are mainly formed. Fig. 3 is a similar view of another of these blocks. Fig. 4 is a transverse section at 4 4., Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section at 55, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a front view of part of the furnace with the water-supply tank in sections. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of corner blocks. Figs. 8 to 13 are sectional views of the air. and water valves. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the furnace at 1 1, Fig. 5, showing the substitution of pipes for flue-blocks. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of the furnace at 1 1, Fig. 5, showing the flues within the furnace-walls. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of the furnace at 1 1, Fig. 5, showing pipes within the furnace-walls.

A is the ash-pit, B the grate, and O the fire or furnace chamber. The furnace has a front wall, D, back wall, E, and side walls, F. I

show the walls of the furnace with an interior part of blocks made of fire-clay and a covering of brick-work. The front and back walls may be, for the most part, built up in any suitable manner. The side walls, as shown, contain flues through which air and steam are made to pass, and in which they become Very highly heated, and from which they escape through numerous small orifices, ff, into the chamber 0; but as a modification, in place of the flues f extending through flue-blocks in the body of the walls, pipes, as shown in Fig. 14., made of fire-tile or metal, may be placed at the innerside or face of the walls; or flues may be built in the walls, as shown in Fig. 15, or pipes in the walls, as shown in Fig.

16. The front and back blocks are marked a pipe, H, that has a valve, h, operated by a float, I, in a well-known manner, to keep the water in the tank up to a certain level.

J is a cock whose plug J is open to the tank at the inner end, so that the water flows readily into the hollow plug. The outer end of the plug is closed; but its side has a slot, j, extending in a circumferential direction. The case has a similar orifice, j, at the lower side, through which the water flows more or less freely as the slot 3" of the plug and the orifice j of the case are more or less perfectly in conjunction. The water drops from the cock J into the funnel k at the top of pipe K, and is carried by it into the transverse flue d in the front wall of the furnace. This flue connects f of theside blocks, and through diving-flues e and return side flues, f and so descending until it reaches the flues f in the jet-block F from whence it issues in small jets through the small holes f in the form of steam.

It will be understood that when the water enters at (Z it quickly becomes vaporized, and as it descends it becomes highly superheated, so that when it mingles with the carbonaceous gases rising from the fire the steam is readily decomposed, the oxygen uniting with the carbon, because of their superior affinity, by which the hydrogen is liberated, and, ascending, is reoxygenated by superheated air introduced through the jet-orifices at f.

The pipe K is made in the form of a trap, having a downward bend, k, to contain water, and the vertical part k is made sufficiently high to resist the pressure of steam from the flues d and f the water rising in the pipe k" as the pressure of the steam increases.

The stem J of the cock is attached to the air-valve L, so that the water-cock and airvalve always turn simultaneously, and the volume of air will always be proportional to the volume of water.

The air-pipeis shown at M. Itisin conj unetion with a fan or blower, (not shown,) of any suitable description, to force air through the pipe M and valve L into the flue of the furnace. The valve is of hollow cylindrical form, with an aperture, Z, in the side, that may be brought in conjunction with the apertures Z of the ease L of the valve, to allow a full or only apartial flow of air through the pipe M. The air from the pipe M enters a transverse flue, d, in the front wall of the furnace, and passes through ascending flues c to the side flues, f as shown by thearrows, to the flue in the jetblock F, and passes through the small jetholes f into the combustion-chamber O in a highly-heated state, to cause the combustion of any inflammable gases that may be present at thatpoint.

As a means of turning the air-valve and water-cock, I place 011 their common stem or shaft J a pulley, N, with a cord, 0, passing around it and supporting a weight, P. It is necessary for the proper action of the Valve and cock that they should have slow rotary a rest.

motion, and V to' secure this any well-known or suitable escapement mechanism may be used. I- 'have shown a fly, Q, connected with the shaft J 2 by cog-wheels It S.

I do not confine myself to any special mechanism for turning the valve and cook. Any clock-work mechanism may be used that will give the required movement in the required time -say between one-fourth and one-third of a revolution in half an hour, more or less, as circumstances may require.

I do not confine myself to the form of airvalve L or cook J shown and described, for any other form of valve and cock by which a like result could be produced would beessentially the same in principle; also, any mechanism causing the simultaneous movement would be a substantial equivalent of the stem J connecting them for this purpose.

I will say here that the purpose of this device is to supply the superheated steam and air in greater quantity at the time when the fuel is giving out its volatile matterviz. ,when fresh coal .had been added to the fire. At such time the mechanism would be wound up and let torun its course, first gradually opening and then gradually closing to a certain degree the valve L and cook J. Three different positions of the valve and cook are shown in Figs. 8 to 13. Figs. 8 and It show their position when the mechanism is first wound up and the minimum quantity of air and water being supplied. Figs. 9 and 12 show their position when the mechanism is h alt run down and the maximunr quantity being supplied, and Figs. 10 and.13 show their position when the mechanism has run down and the minimum supply reattained, at which they will rest until the fire is again renewed and the same operation again performed.

As a means of winding up the mechanism I show a hanging cord, 0.

The shaft J 2 may have a ratehetconnection with the retarding mechanism R S, sothat in winding up the mechanism may remain at This device is common in watches and clocks, and needs no description to enable a mechanic to apply it.

I have shown the flue and lining bloc-ks hermetically connected together by joint-tongues t, of fire clay or cement. occupying matchgrooves in the ends of the blocks, so as to make the fines air-tight.

The operation of the siphon-shaped waterpipe is as follows: The pressure of the steam generated will keep the water in the long leg K somewhat above the level in the short leg, and. the counter-pressure of the water in the long leg'will, by its greater or less pressure, overcome the outward pressure of the steam, thus forcing the waterto enter the flues or pipes f through the transverse flue d as rap idly as it is furnished from the cockthat is, in sufficient quantities to supply the needed quantity of oxygen. The heating-channels of flues f may be confined to the walls of the furnace, 'or may extend in part or in whole to the walls of the boiler, as may be found expedient. As perfect combustion of carbon can only be produced at a high temperature;

as such high temperature can only be maintained during the absorption of the heat of the coke fire by the fresh coal by the radia-' tion of heat previously generated and stored for the purpose; as effective radiation can not be attained if the walls are widely separated; as such radiation can maintain such high temperature in every part of acomparatively small area only; as the perfection of combustion depends to a great extent upon the attenuation of the jets containing the oxygen, as small jets of steam or air cannot, except by the use of considerable force, be made to penetrate a great distance into a highly-heated mass of rapidly-moving vapor, and as there are times in most manufircturing establishments where only a portion of themaximum power is required, for all these reasons I think it best to" make each furnace quite narrow say three (8) feet or less-and to multiply them in number as maybe required. By this means, each being distinct in its operation, any number can beused, and such as are being used can be kept up to thetemperature indispensably necessaryto perfect combustion without waste.

For the purpose of simplifying the explanation of the operations of the furnace, we will suppose that the coal used consists of two; thirds (ii) fixed carbon, (coke,) and onethird (it) volatile matter,and that all the volatile matter is carbon, omitting the hydrogen; that one hundred and fifty cubic feet of air contains the amount of oxygen to consume one pound of coal; that one hundred cubic feet shall be devoted to the combustion of the fixed carbon and fifty cubic feet to the combustion of the volatile matter; that one pound of 'coal only is to be used, and that there is a bright fire on the grate. The fire-door will be closed, the ash-pit closed, except an opening, M, of definite size, controlled by a valve, M", to admit into the ash-pit, during'the combustion of one pound of coal, a constant quantity of air, aggregating fifty cubic feet. The oxygen of this fifty feet of air will, in passing up through the incandescent coke, combine with all the carbon it will carry, the carbon being in excess, and will produce, by so combining, carbonic oxide. This carbonic oxide will be met above the fire by another constant quantity of air, aggregating fifty cubic feet, to convert it into carbonic acid, (two operations.) In the meantime the volatile matter is being evolved above the fire, and, unless oxygenated, will pass off unconsumed; butif the oxygen contained in the fifty cubic feet of air previously assigned to it be combined with it as evolve da variablequantity-that will be converted into carbonic acid by one operation and the maximum amount of heat generated.

We will suppose that the air-valve L, as at Fig. 8, will admit the passage of the constant quantity of fifty feet to meet the carbonic ex- 7 ide being produced by the fifty feet admitted below the grate, and that as it moves toward Fig. 9 it admits the same constant quantity, but in addition the constantly-increasing demands of the escaping volatile matter, until, upon arriving at the position shown at Fig. 9, it supplies the maximum requirement of the volatile matter in addition to the constant quantity,when, still moving slowly toward Fig. 10, still continuing the constant quantity, it gradually decreases the volume to conform to the decreasing evolution of the volatile matter, and at Fig. 10 only passes the constant volume to meet the like volume admitted beneath the grates, and so remains until the fire is renewed and the same operation is repeated. The oxygen in the air only is utilized, the nitrogen being negative, and any other equal amount of oxygen from any other source would accomplish the same end. One hundred cubic feet of air contains of oxygen 1.6770 pound, and 1.6770 pound of oxygen is contained in 1.8841 pound of water, which, in addition, contains .2071 pound of hydrogen; and if 1.8841 pound of water be introduced, in the form of superheated steam, into the furnace at f, instead of the one hundred feet of air, the oxygen of the steam will be dissociated from its hydrogen, and (because of the superior affinity of oxygen for carbon at a high temperature) will combine with the carbon, the hydrogen being set free.

The object of introducing superheated steam is twofold.

First. The difficulty of combining oxygen and carbon gases increases in proportion to the volume of the accompanying non-combining gas. The volumeof oxy'genin air, as compared with its nitrogen, is as one to four, whereas in water, as compared with its hydrogen, it is as one to two.

Second. The hydrogen liberated by the decomposition of the steam will be reoxygena-ted by the introduction of one hundred cubic feet of air at f, and as hydrogen burns at any tem perature, contact with the cold surface of a boiler will not militate against its proper combustion. The hydrogen will thus constitute a part of the fuel.

I have shown that the first prerequisite heatcan be created by placing the radiatingsurfaces of the side walls, F, in near enough proximity to keep up thorough combustion while fresh coal is absorbing heat from the coke fire. The time necessarythe third prerequisite-for the combination of the gases in a place hot enough to produce perfect combustion is found in the prolongation of the furnace, such prolongation giving area, and the greater the area the more time will be required to fill it by a given fiow of gas.

Assuming a definite pressure of air in the supply-pipe M, (from the blower,) and knowing the amount that will pass through a defi. nite opening at that pressure, and knowing the amount of air we want introduced at any particular point during any definite time, the valve L enables these requirement-s to be met.

\Vhen a definite amount of fuel is thrown into the fire, the volatile matter will immediately commence to escape. It will be evolved in a constantly-increasing volume until the maximum is attained, and then in a constant- 1y-decreasing volume until coke only remains. Knowing the proportions of fixed carbon and the volatile matter contained in the coal, the time occupied in its escape, and the amount of air necessary for each, a definite opening will be made to conduct half of the amount required for the consumption of the fixed carbon under the grate to be met, as before described, by the other half above the fire, both being constant quantities; but the varying evolution of volatile matter above the grate will require a varying supply of oxygen to conform to it. This requirement is met by the valve L, or the valve and cook L and J, asbefore described, which will move simultaneously to conform in time to that occupied by the evolution of the volatile matter.

I am aware that the decomposition of superheated steam in the presence of carbon at a high temperature is not new; but I believe it to be new to decompose superheated steam in the presence of carbon and carbonic oxide, reducing both' to carbonic acid, as is also the subsequent combustion of the liberated hydrogen at a more advanced position in the furnace by reoxygenating it through the agency of heated air in jets.

I am also aware that the supplying of oxygen to a furnace by means of a blower is old; but I believe it to be new to apportion the supply of oxygen below and above the grates in such a manner as to produce distinctly carbonic oxide, to be afterward converted into carbonic acid, but more especially the supply of oxygen to the varying requirements of the volatile matter escaping from the fuel newly added to the fire.

What I claim as new and of my invention is 1. A furnace with the sides Fin near proximity, as set forth, and supplied with two independent series of heating flues or pipes, f, in the body of the walls, or placed at the inner sides of the same, and having two sepa rate series of jet-orifices, one for steam and the other for air, jetholes extending from said flues or pipes to the fire-chamber.

2. The combination, in afurnace, of two independent series of jet-orifices, f and f, the latter for steam, above but in close proximity to the fire, the other for air, at a greater distance from the fire, each regulated by means of valve or cook, so as to introduce water or air in definite quantities, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with a furnace having heating lines or pipesdand f, of an apparatus for feeding water into such fines or pipes in the required quantity.

IIO

4. In combination with the tubes (2 and fines or pipes f arranged within the walls F, and the walls F of a furnace, the inverted siphon K, having a downward bend, 7c, and an up- 5 ward extension, 76*, for the purposes set forth. -5. The water-cock J, having circumferentially elongated opening in the plug and case, when in combination with the tube 01 and fines or pipes f arranged within the walls F of a esasse y I s valve connected, and mechanism, substantially as shown and described, to gradually open and then gradually close, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A furnace narrow in width and extended in the direction of the current of the products of combustion, having the sides provided with heating lines or pipes, and two series of jetopenings for air and steam, respectively, eX- tending from the fines or pipes into the firechamber.

10. The combination, in a furnace, of heating fines or pipcsf jets f and f inverted siphon K, cock J, tank G, compound air-pipe M, and valve L, connected with the cock J,

and with mechanism to operate the valve and cook.

JACOB s. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

SAML. KNIGHT, GEO. H. KNIGHT. 

